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Benjamin Todd Jealous, President and CEO of the National NAACP said, “The NAACP’s number one concern in this case remains securing the arrest, prosecution and conviction of George Zimmerman. We are cautiously pleased that Chief Lee has stepped aside for his failure to assure Mr. Zimmerman was arrested. Any chief who would so allow his officers to so mishandle a situation like this has no place in law enforcement. At the end of this investigation it will be clear that his temporary removal should be made permanent.

Women and minorities disproportionately affected by lowered wages and job losses in so-called, “Right to Work” states

Thursday, 29 March 2012 14:33

Equal rights and equal pay for women doesn’t exist in Right-to-Work Sates. Research by the Washington DC-based nonpartisan think tank, Economic Policy Institute shows a gender gap in which women’s wages are penalized further than the wage of an “average” worker. The same holds true for nonwhites.

“Basically, what it means is that money is taken from the pockets of women and people of color to an even greater extent,” says Javier Morillo-Alicea, president of SEIU Minnesota Local 26. “Additionally, the public sector is the single most important source of employment for African-Americans (21% employed in this sector according to 2010 statistics) than others,” he adds.

Last week, members of the NAACP Religious Leaders Roundtable, the Religious Affairs Committee of the NAACP Board of Directors and other evangelicals met with Rev. Franklin Graham, President and CEO of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and President/CEO of Samaritan's Purse. The group held the first meeting of its kind to discuss the use of faith as a political weapon and how to advance a new narrative about the meaning evangelicalism.

“This was a meaningful and productive meeting,” stated Rev. Nelson B. Rivers III, Vice President for Stakeholders relations with the NAACP. “All parties were in agreement that it is essential to our society and our faith that we refrain from demonizing Christians and people of other faiths when they do not agree with us. We look forward to continued discussions with Rev. Graham”

CALL TO ACTION

Tuesday, 27 March 2012 14:00

The US Department of Justice and the FBI have opened an investigation into the "facts and circumstances" surrounding the shooting of Trayvon Martin, the Justice Department announced Monday.“The department will conduct a thorough and independent review of all of the evidence and take appropriate action at the conclusion of the investigation,” Xochitl Hinojosa, a Justice Department spokeswoman, said in a statement. “The department also is providing assistance to and cooperating with the state officials in their investigation into the incident.”The decision comes a week after the Florida NAACP State Conference issued a letter to the Department of Justice, requesting that it investigate the Trayvon Martin case at a federal level. A Seminole County grand jury will also investigate the Martin case.

NAACP leaders call for justice during Monday's rally for Trayvon Martin in Sanford

Tuesday, 27 March 2012 12:33

(Sanford, FL) – Monday night, representatives from the NAACP addressed gave impassioned pleas for justice as part of a town hall meeting and rally in honor of Trayvon Martin. The town hall took place at the Sanford Civil Center as part of a special City Commission meeting to address Trayvon’s shooting last month.

“Trayvon’s family deserves answers, and his killer needs to be arrested,” stated Turner Clayton, President of the NAACP Seminole County Branch.

“Justice must prevail.”

“I am a 17-year-old Black male in high school and, in this climate, I could be the next Trayvon Martin,” stated Brendien Mitchell, President of the Florida NAACP Youth & College Division. “We must bring an end to the attitudes and policies that allow an innocent Black teenage boy to be chased, shot and killed and his killer to remain free.”

Nonviolent Peaceforce featured at high level briefing at the UN

Tuesday, 27 March 2012 12:28
Submitted by Blogger Joy Mosley

Over 130 representatives of UN member States, Observers, UN officials and civil society representatives met Friday at the UN, for a high level briefing organized by the Permanent Missions of Belgium, Benin, Costa Rica and Philippines, to discuss broadening the concept of peacekeeping to include the contribution of civil society to the unarmed protection of civilians in conflict situations.

Mr. Tariq Al-Ansari, Deputy Chief of Staff of the President of the General Assembly opened the event with remarks on behalf of the President, Mr. Nassir Abulaziz Al-Nasser: “We all understand that UN Peacekeeping mandates have become more complex. And the protection of civilians is becoming more and more crucial to the work of our Missions.” He also affirmed: “To protect them, we need to make sure that all available resources are engaged in a combined and well-coordinated effort.”

To Be Equal

Thursday, 22 March 2012 19:00
Marc H. Morial President and CEO National Urban League

“The single issue that arguably stands to have the greatest impact on the future of Black America in 2012 is the vote.” The State of Black America 2012

This week, the National Urban League takes its fight for jobs, education, voting rights and empowerment to Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. In meetings with Obama Administration officials and leaders from both parties in Congress, we will demand immediate action on the persistent jobs crisis and we will offer our own 8-point plan to Educate, Employ and Empower the 13 million Americans who remain out of work.

The highlight of our three-day occupation of the nation’s capital is the March 7 release of our annual State of Black America report at a 7 pm town hall meeting on the campus of Howard University. I will be joined by Howard University president, Dr. Sidney Ribeau and a host of civil rights, political, business, youth and religious leaders for an open-dialogue about some of the most pressing issues facing Black America. In this election year, no issue is more important than galvanizing Black voter participation and turning back the current assault on voting rights that threatens to disenfranchise as many as 5 million Americans this year.

National Urban League: Occupy the Vote

The National Urban League’s annual “State of Black America” report took a sharp turn this year from what it normally considers the most pressing issues facing African-Americans.

“More than the economy, more than jobs, more than an excellent education, the single issue that arguably stands to have the greatest impact on the future of Black America in 2012 is the vote,” wrote Marc H. Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League.

That’s quite a statement from the head of an organization famous for its successful job training programs and close working relationship with Fortune 500 companies.

Morial explained: “As Congress wrestles over measures to create jobs and grow the economy, a multi-state effort is underway to exclude those Americans most profoundly affected by the political process.”

Lawmakers believe the bill will open discussion of a Minnesota health care exchange

Last Monday, State Representative Erin Murphy and State Senator Jeff Hayden unveiled the “Healthy Minnesota Exchange,” another framework for establishing a state health care exchange. Both Rep. Murphy and Sen. Hayden believe this will broaden the conversation on constructing an effective health care exchange.

IRAQ REFLECTION: Anniversary of the Kurdish spring

Friday, 09 March 2012 13:32
Bud Courtney

17 February 2012—a year after the Kurdish spring. A sense of powerlessness is in the city as military and police presence builds in anticipation of possible activities on the first anniversary. There is no clear-cut agenda for a demonstration, just calls on Facebook to gather in the square at 11:30. All calls are faceless and a sense of uncertainty looms.

At 10 o’clock we joined a large group, many of whom we had walked with through the streets of the old city during the Valentine’s Day witness, at the graveyard above the area where one of the young men killed during the demonstrations is buried. It was a solemn beginning to the day, a reminder that anything can happen when things spin out of control.

Minnesota Senate district 58, soon to be 59

Friday, 09 March 2012 13:12
Lydia Schwartz - Contributing Writer

As Minnesota’s population grows, each legislator needs to represent the additional people more accurately. Redistricting is the process of redrawing the boundaries of election districts in response to population changes determined by the results of the decennial US Census. The purpose of this update every ten years is to ensure that the people of each district are equally represented.

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